Rahul, Akhilesh pair of swans to be separated post polls: Naqvi

Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav are a "pair of swans" who will have to go their separate ways post elections as their alliance is shortlived, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said.

The minister, who was here for a series of poll rallies in Tanda and Kemri villages, said people now believe that exploitation of farmers, small and medium businessman and the problems of the poor will be resolved once the BJP comes to power.

Trashing the prospects of the SP-Cong alliance, Naqvi quoted from a Bollywood song "do hanson ka joda bichad gayo re" (A pair of swans have been separated) to say that Akhilesh and Rahul will go their own ways after the poll results.

"Rahul and Akhilesh had been hurling allegations at each other in the harshest language but later joined hands to take on the BJP, which is on a winning spree and can never be defeated by any alliance", he told PTI here.

He said the duo will need blessings of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sonia Gandhi after the results are declared "as they are going to taste defeat at the hands of the BJP".

This is the first time that the Samajwadi Party has entered an alliance with any national party for elections in the state. While SP will is contesting on 298 seats, Congress has fielded candidates on the remaining 105 seats.

Attacking the previous UPA government, the minister said, "Militancy and terrorism raised their ugly heads in 60 years of the Congress rule. And, instead of checking the menace, Congress allowed it to prosper."